Further in Summer than the Birds by Emily Dickinson

Analysis

"Further in Summer than the Birds" is seen as one of the hardest of Dickinson's to comprehend, mostly due to the very little use of punctuation--only two periods and nothing else. With this, it allows her readers to interpret the writing in different ways.

To me, the poem is stating that as summer wears on and finally ends, watching nature is harder, yet still satisfying. It consists of four stanzas with four lines each. The first and third lines of each stanza consists of iambic-quadrameter while the second and fourth lines are iambic-triameter. This helps keep the rhythm even while giving Dickinson the freedom to write longer lines of importance followed by shorter lines full of emotion.

Johnson number: 1068

Poem

Further in Summer than the BirdsBy Emily Dickinson
Further in Summer than the Birds
Pathetic from the Grass
A minor Nation celebrates
Its unobtrusive Mass.
No Ordinance be seen
So gradual the Grace
A pensive Custom it becomes
Enlarging Loneliness.
Antiquest felt at Noon
When August burning low
Arise this spectral Canticle
Repose to typify
Remit as yet no Grace
No Furrow on the Glow
Yet a Druidic Difference
Enhances Nature now